The anniversary of PRINCE & THE NEW POWER GENERATION'S 'Love Symbol' album

Check out the article The Current published on the anniversary of Prince & The New Power Generation's 'Love Symbol' album entitled "Musicheads Essentials: Prince & The New Power Generation 'Love Symbol'":

A very ambitious record, both musically and lyrically, that was the ultimate ego trip and quite likely to antagonize non-fans who would at the same time be overwhelmed by its complexity and upset by Prince's arrogance. It was bound to be misunderstood. But hell, everything on this album is so intense! It's a masterpiece

To me, the closing of the first chapter of his career, and a great way to go out. Starting with Batman, GB, D&P - the 90s sound all culminates here. I'll never forget that first time I heard "7" - the intro was like Bohemian Rhapsody turned sideways. I was floored. Still am.

I always assumed it was so good because he was trying to get that contracted 5 mill sales, it didn't happen, you can only control sales so much with quality. i still remember getting the taped copy from a buddy and thinking "he's just getting better and better" and in many ways he was, his voice was better, his use of the studio was better, the songs were great, I don't get why people hate some of the music from this period.

One of my favourite Prince albums and the one that really made me a hardcore fan after he captivated me with Diamonds & Pearls. I was about 15 at the time and it just blew me away.

Exactly the same for me; I was 15 in 91 and D&P, well mainly the Gett Off video, caught my attention but then the Symbol album just got me hooked. The videos and everything else around it just seemed to be this magical world that blew me away.

i don't understand what you guys are saying here, the vid or the rap? the vid was goofy, it wasn't even that accessible but it was funny as fuck, prince was a nut. the album had some great stuff, the music was great, the sound was great, certainly more polished than his 80's stuff, when god created woman, the max, three chain's o' gold, morning papers, i don't understand what is wrong with some of these songs, he was still trying new things and all people could bitch about was minor shit like "morning papers sounded more like a billy joel song" so what, it was good.

OldFriends4Sale said:

the collaborative synergy was off lol

PeteSilas said:

so a whole album is crap because of a bad video? or was it the rap? I always just overlooked the rap and enjoyed the music, didn't understand why people let one thing ruin something else.

i don't understand what you guys are saying here, the vid or the rap? the vid was goofy, it wasn't even that accessible but it was funny as fuck, prince was a nut. the album had some great stuff, the music was great, the sound was great, certainly more polished than his 80's stuff, when god created woman, the max, three chain's o' gold, morning papers, i don't understand what is wrong with some of these songs, he was still trying new things and all people could bitch about was minor shit like "morning papers sounded more like a billy joel song" so what, it was good.

OldFriends4Sale said:

the collaborative synergy was off lol

PeteSilas said:

so a whole album is crap because of a bad video? or was it the rap? I always just overlooked the rap and enjoyed the music, didn't understand why people let one thing ruin something else.

Truth be told, I actually love the album more than most. But I get why some people dislike it, as Tony M is a very strong presence on the record, and at times he definitely overstays his welcome (and completely butchers Love 2 The 9s).

But there's no denying the quality of songwriting on this album. Songs like Damn U, 7 and Sweet Baby are exceptional.

i don't understand what you guys are saying here, the vid or the rap? the vid was goofy, it wasn't even that accessible but it was funny as fuck, prince was a nut. the album had some great stuff, the music was great, the sound was great, certainly more polished than his 80's stuff, when god created woman, the max, three chain's o' gold, morning papers, i don't understand what is wrong with some of these songs, he was still trying new things and all people could bitch about was minor shit like "morning papers sounded more like a billy joel song" so what, it was good.

Truth be told, I actually love the album more than most. But I get why some people dislike it, as Tony M is a very strong presence on the record, and at times he definitely overstays his welcome (and completely butchers Love 2 The 9s). But there's no denying the quality of songwriting on this album. Songs like Damn U, 7 and Sweet Baby are exceptional.

PeteSilas said: Truth be told, I actually love the album more than most. But I get why some people dislike it, as Tony M is a very strong presence on the record, and at times he definitely overstays his welcome (and completely butchers Love 2 The 9s). But there's no denying the quality of songwriting on this album. Songs like Damn U, 7 and Sweet Baby are exceptional.

It's a brilliant album.My favorites are "And God Created Woman","Sexy MF","The Continental","Damn U" and "Love 2 The 9s".The album is perhaps a few songs too long,but the highlights make it all worthwhile.

i don't understand what you guys are saying here, the vid or the rap? the vid was goofy, it wasn't even that accessible but it was funny as fuck, prince was a nut. the album had some great stuff, the music was great, the sound was great, certainly more polished than his 80's stuff, when god created woman, the max, three chain's o' gold, morning papers, i don't understand what is wrong with some of these songs, he was still trying new things and all people could bitch about was minor shit like "morning papers sounded more like a billy joel song" so what, it was good.

OldFriends4Sale said:

the collaborative synergy was off lol

PeteSilas said:

so a whole album is crap because of a bad video? or was it the rap? I always just overlooked the rap and enjoyed the music, didn't understand why people let one thing ruin something else.

Truth be told, I actually love the album more than most. But I get why some people dislike it, as Tony M is a very strong presence on the record, and at times he definitely overstays his welcome (and completely butchers Love 2 The 9s).

But there's no denying the quality of songwriting on this album. Songs like Damn U, 7 and Sweet Baby are exceptional.

And The Sacrifice of Victor. I'm not very fond of Sweet Baby, so that makes 3-4 exceptional songs on a 70+ minute CD. The rest is just raps and jams and noise. Sexy MF is fun, but none of those other jams make much of an impression. Tony wasn't the problem, I don't mind him. The problem was that Prince was trying waaaay too hard to have a hip hop image.

I may disagree with everything you say, but I will defend your right to say it.

Truth be told, I actually love the album more than most. But I get why some people dislike it, as Tony M is a very strong presence on the record, and at times he definitely overstays his welcome (and completely butchers Love 2 The 9s). But there's no denying the quality of songwriting on this album. Songs like Damn U, 7 and Sweet Baby are exceptional.

And The Sacrifice of Victor. I'm not very fond of Sweet Baby, so that makes 3-4 exceptional songs on a 70+ minute CD. The rest is just raps and jams and noise. Sexy MF is fun, but none of those other jams make much of an impression. Tony wasn't the problem, I don't mind him. The problem was that Prince was trying waaaay too hard to have a hip hop image.

And The Sacrifice of Victor. I'm not very fond of Sweet Baby, so that makes 3-4 exceptional songs on a 70+ minute CD. The rest is just raps and jams and noise. Sexy MF is fun, but none of those other jams make much of an impression. Tony wasn't the problem, I don't mind him. The problem was that Prince was trying waaaay too hard to have a hip hop image.

.

It may be hard for some of you all to imagine, but back then, rap was seen as a lesser art form. MUCH lesser. Similar to the saying "those who can't do teach", was the idea that those who couldn't sing, rapped.

.

Prince was on record as not really having much use for rap, and that was cemented by his lyrics in the song Dead On It from the Black Album which many of us had long before its official release.

.

Personally, I've wasn't a fan of rap way back in the day, and I haven't warmed to it over the years. There's an occasional song that'll catch with me, but 99% chance that you won't hear any rap coming out of my stereo unless my kids are choosing the songs.

.

So when Prince does a 180 on us and releases this album with songs trying to bring that hip hop edge, it just did not work for me. My first thought was that he had too much talent to be trying to rap. My second thought was that I bought this album to hear Prince, not TonyM. And I definitely wasn't trying to hear Tony M fuck up these Prince songs (IMO, of course)

.

But even not wanting to hear rap in Prince music, I really like My Name is Prince.... until TonyM shows up... And Irresistible Bitch... Prince was doin rap before it was mainstream... the key? Prince was doing it, not someone else. That's how I like my Prince music... produced, arranged, composed, and PERFORMED by Prince.

And The Sacrifice of Victor. I'm not very fond of Sweet Baby, so that makes 3-4 exceptional songs on a 70+ minute CD. The rest is just raps and jams and noise. Sexy MF is fun, but none of those other jams make much of an impression. Tony wasn't the problem, I don't mind him. The problem was that Prince was trying waaaay too hard to have a hip hop image.

.

It may be hard for some of you all to imagine, but back then, rap was seen as a lesser art form. MUCH lesser. Similar to the saying "those who can't do teach", was the idea that those who couldn't sing, rapped.

.

Prince was on record as not really having much use for rap, and that was cemented by his lyrics in the song Dead On It from the Black Album which many of us had long before its official release.

.

Personally, I've wasn't a fan of rap way back in the day, and I haven't warmed to it over the years. There's an occasional song that'll catch with me, but 99% chance that you won't hear any rap coming out of my stereo unless my kids are choosing the songs.

.

So when Prince does a 180 on us and releases this album with songs trying to bring that hip hop edge, it just did not work for me. My first thought was that he had too much talent to be trying to rap. My second thought was that I bought this album to hear Prince, not TonyM. And I definitely wasn't trying to hear Tony M fuck up these Prince songs (IMO, of course)

.

But even not wanting to hear rap in Prince music, I really like My Name is Prince.... until TonyM shows up... And Irresistible Bitch... Prince was doin rap before it was mainstream... the key? Prince was doing it, not someone else. That's how I like my Prince music... produced, arranged, composed, and PERFORMED by Prince.